In this episode of the Growth Edge Leadership Podcast, Laurie Baedke sits down with Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University, for a timely and thoughtful conversation on what it means to lead with courage, composure, and character in an era of relentless change. Drawing from her experience leading a rapidly innovating university through disruption, difficult decisions, and transformation, Dr. Becerra shares practical wisdom on courageous decision-making, navigating uncertainty, balancing decisiveness with discernment, and staying grounded in values when leadership pressure intensifies. Together, Laurie and Dr. Becerra explore the tensions leaders face today and the enduring principles that still matter most. In This Episode * Why the pace and volume of change feels fundamentally different today * How AI is reshaping education, leadership, and workforce preparation * The importance of developing both technical capability and human-centered leadership skills * Courageous leadership and making unpopular but necessary decisions * How leaders can navigate uncertainty without pretending to have all the answers * Psychological safety, humility, and surrounding yourself with wise counsel * Balancing decisiveness with thoughtful consideration of unintended consequences * The pressure leaders face in the age of social media and public scrutiny * Why values and a clear “North Star” matter in difficult moments * The importance of rest, renewal, and sustainable leadership * Leadership as stewardship, impact, and service to others Key Themes and Takeaways 1. The Pace of Change Requires a Different Kind of Leadership Dr. Becerra reflects on how leaders today are navigating not only more change, but faster change. From AI disruption to shifting societal expectations and policy changes, leaders are being asked to adapt constantly while still providing stability and clarity for their organizations. 2. Technical Excellence Alone Is Not Enough While Marymount is intentionally preparing students to be “AI fluent,” Dr. Becerra emphasizes that curiosity, courage, ethics, empathy, and perspective-taking remain equally essential. As she shares, the so-called “soft skills” are enduring leadership competencies that matter more than ever. 3. Courage Often Looks Like Making Unpopular Decisions One of the most compelling moments in the conversation centers around Marymount’s decision to close under-enrolled academic programs in order to invest in emerging, market-driven fields. Dr. Becerra discusses the reality that leaders cannot “be everything to everybody,” and that courageous leadership sometimes means disappointing people in service of long-term sustainability and mission alignment. 4. Leaders Do Not Need to Have All the Answers Dr. Becerra openly rejects the idea that strong leaders must always project certainty. Instead, she advocates for humility, vulnerability, and the willingness to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll look into it.” She also highlights the importance of building psychologically safe teams where trusted colleagues feel comfortable offering dissenting perspectives and honest feedback. 5. Every Leadership Decision Carries Tension Throughout the conversation, Laurie and Dr. Becerra return repeatedly to the tensions leaders navigate every day: decisiveness versus over-analysis, courage versus caution, confidence versus humility, and responsiveness versus overreacting to criticism. Leadership is rarely black and white, and thoughtful leaders must learn to navigate complexity rather than avoid it. 6. Your Values Must Anchor Your Leadership For Dr. Becerra, her “North Star” is always asking what is best for students and for the future sustainability of the institution. She emphasizes that leaders must know their values clearly and make decisions consistent with those convictions, even when criticism or uncertainty follows. 7. Sustainable Leadership Requires Renewal In one of the conversation’s most human moments, Dr. Becerra shares her own ongoing lessons around slowing down, resting, and intentionally renewing herself outside of work. Whether through family time, movies, hobbies, or simple downtime, leaders cannot continue pouring into others if they never replenish themselves. Final Thought Leadership today demands far more than expertise or authority. It requires the courage to make difficult decisions, the composure to navigate uncertainty without panic, and the character to remain grounded in values when pressure mounts. This conversation with Dr. Irma Becerra is a powerful reminder that while the world around us may continue changing rapidly, the leaders who endure are the ones who stay anchored in purpose, integrity, and service to others. Connect with Dr. Becerra - https://www.linkedin.com/in/irma-becerra-phd-8753a91/
